Thursday, April 26, 2012

Free markets can save the planet

For those who think global warming theory is all a lie and junk science perpetuated by Marxist scientist who are all a part of Al Gore's grand conspiracy, you will not be interested in the below article.

I have been skeptical of global warming alarmism. I have been convinced that some scientist really do cook the books to "hide the decline." I believe dissenting scientific voices have been marginalized and silenced. I think wind mills are folly and no solution at all and ethanol has been a huge waste of money and harmful to the environment. I think a lot of environmentalist do really silly, feel-good, symbolic things that serve no purpose. I think most carbon off-set schemes are a scam and a con game. Nevertheless, on balance, I believe global warming theory is valid and we have reason to be concerned.

I know that there are some environmentalist who think the only way to save the planet is to establish a one world government or drastically restrict national sovereignty, destroy free enterprise, drastically restrict freedom and to force people to live an austere existence with few creature comforts. I do not accept that.

I believe we can manage economic growth, lift people out of poverty, and address global warming by having more freedom, not less. I believe more capitalism, not less will solve the problem of global warming and other environmental problems. I believe the invisible hand of the market will lead to the right decisions assuming the cost of  externalities  are property entered into the equation. I believe technology and scientific advances can lead to a better world, not a less desirable world. 

Unfortunately most conservatives are sitting on the sidelines, ridiculing science, and taking a what-me-worry attitude rather than offering real alternatives to liberal prescriptions.  Unfortunately, their is not a debate about how to solve the problem of global warming because conservatives are still denying there is a problem. This article explains how markets can help save the planet. 


Free Markets Save the Planet 
Nick Sibilla, Reason, January 27, 2012
A startling new report from the International Energy Agency (IEA) reveals a free-market way to thwart climate change: Create a free market in energy.   Fatih Birol, chief economist at the IEA, estimates that 37 nations spent $409 billion on fossil fuel subsidies in 2010. (By comparison, renewables received $66 billion in that same year.)
Impressively, if fossil fuel subsidies were eliminated, this would avoid 750 million tons of CO2 by 2015, and could potentially save over 2.5 gigatons of carbon by 2035. The latter is 70 percent of what the European Union currently emits. In total, by ending these distortions in the energy market, the world could reduce half of the carbon emissions necessary to stop a 2°C (3.6°F) rise in global temperatures. read more 

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